Tlalpan Tales

Thursday, July 3, 2008

So we've been here about a month, and that coffee shop we mentioned last post, now knows our usual's :)

We've also just finished a super-intensive immersion course in the language. We took Spanish for 6 hours a day for 5 days a week for 3 long weeks. I'm sort of glad it's over. We have however learned a whole lot. Although it's still only basics we're definitely a whole lot more confident ordering our tacos, and even with guacamole on the side- impressive huh?

The next course is slightly less intense but it doesn't start for a least another 3 weeks. So in the meantime we'll be practicing as much as we can- should be fun. It was pointed out to me that we're probably going to be far less entertaining to talk to once we actually know how to speak. Right now we're fairly well versed in initiating anything from giggles to knee slaps.

So some of you know that we had an eye clinic held here by a group from a church in Kentucky. They gave away hundreds of free glasses and we saw tons of people. The thankfulness from the people was a sweet blessing. There were sweet older ladies that would kiss the cheek of everyone they came across and thank us with handshakes and men that just wanted to shake hands with everyone they could. Made us rethink what we're that thankful for, and what we wait for too. They lined up from around 7 a.m. for a clinic that didn't open till after 10. The people have a lot to teach us here. I just hope we keep open hearts and eyes to it all.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance. Proverbs 1:5

It was so good having the Kentucky group here and to sing in English with a bunch of voices. We have been trying to follow up on contacts from that clinic. There's one family in particular that seem to have some sort of genuine interest. So I ask for your prayers on that.

In general everything seems to be going well and we're enjoying the things we're learning. Also I've been reading a shockingly good book "the Shack" by William Young- if you like a thought provoking read just buy a copy I really don't think you'll regret it.

I know Ashley and I both sincerely appreciate all your prayers and encouragement. Thanks.In his more than abundant Love-Cairen

Also, some random piccies from our travels, mostly at a really nice market we visited:

Some of the 'good' smells in this city :)

< Us and our coordinators & kids at a really nice Art Market.

I've yet to fathom why these dolls are everywhere

This is just a market front- they seem to combine their history in art all the time- I think its cool

and this is Chase, the middle one co-operating with the camera here. He really is that mischevious

Thursday, May 29, 2008

We made it to Mexico guys! It sure was an adventure getting here and continues to be as we make our way through one of the biggest cities in the world, not being able to speak the native tongue! But we're making it and having lots of fun through trial and error :) We happen to live in an awesome apartment that we're saving for another missionary family that's a part of this work in Tlalpan while they are back in the states raising support.

We were kind of confined to our apartment for a few days, afraid to go out and not be able to speak to anyone, but our coordinator, Carolyn, gave us an "assignment" to leave our apartment and go out for coffee. That was a lot of fun. We ventured about a 10 minute walk from our apartment to a cute little coffee shop where two girls, who looked to be about our age, were working. And of course, we speak no Spanish, and they speak no English. But through lots of pointing and hand gestures we finally figured out our order. There was lots of giggling and making fun of oursleves but it really helped us to be more comfortable with communicating. There are ways to speak without words.

Oh yeah, here's a pic of our coordinators and they're kids.

That's Benji and Carolyn, and their three boys, Reese, Chase amd Pierce. They are amazing and I'm so thankful to have them as coordinators. They've really welcomed Cairen and me into their family and into their work here in Tlalpan. They really love us and that seems like the best quality to have in a coordinator.

We are so blessed to be here! I thank God for bringing us to a place and people like this.

And I am sure of this, that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Heres a video slideshow that Ashley and I showed at a presentation we did for our classmates. Its got some cool photees in it from our Mexico City trip that we took with our A.I.M. class back in Feburary this year.

We got the opportunity to visit Mexico in February along with our whole class of 48 students. We saw a lot of the city and handed out food to the homeless, passed out about 35,000 flyers to invite people to church, visited a high school, did several community service projects; helped clean windows at schools, paint walls at parks, pick up litter etc. and ate lots of really good Mexican food! I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and am very grateful we got the opportunity. The people are very warm and accepting and seemed quite receptive. A lot of them asked us about how to get to the church building while we were passing out flyers, which was encouraging to see their interest. We also visited a few cathedrals including the basilica. The people are very religious but it’s quite sad to see them so wrapped up in religion rather than wrapped up in God. We also got to stand on top of the Latin America Tower and see the city stretch from horizon to horizon. The place is packed full of people each one of them needing God and a lot of them are still looking for him. It was overwhelming, and just a little bit scary. It made me very aware that throughout this whole thing I am utterly dependent on God who is, thankfully, infinitely bigger than me. Please pray that he will work his great grace and might through two small girls in a city of 20-something million people.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Hey you made it to my blog! Thanks for checking it out. I'm just about to leave for Mexico City with my team mate Ashley to start work with 3 small house churches in the southern delgation of Tlalpan. I'm currently home raising support. I'm hoping to use this blog to keep you all posted with how everything goes and give you pictures and maybe even videos to go with it all. Any prayers are much appreciated :) Thanks for stopping by, hope you'll check back soon.